Staff Attorney, Harlingen

Job Description

Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Staff Attorney to be based in Harlingen, Texas.

This position is a unique opportunity for an attorney to join a passionate team made up of social workers, attorneys, and administrative staff, to engage in interdisciplinary written and oral best interests advocacy on behalf of children in immigration removal proceedings. Young Center is appointed as independent Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children and advocates for their best interests with respect to their custody, placement, conditions of release, reunification with caregivers, repatriation, and their immigration proceedings. Young Center does not directly represent children in immigration matters but works closely with the legal service providers who may represent the children’s legal interests. The Staff Attorney will help recruit, train, and supervise bilingual and bicultural volunteer Child Advocates—teachers, law students, social workers, community members—who will work one-on-one with children. The Staff Attorney will apply their legal knowledge and skills to identify issues impacting children’s rights and best interests. Young Center team is a passionate and collegial group of professionals committed to ensuring that children receive the full protection of federal immigration law, domestic child welfare law and international human rights law.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. The Young Center’s Child Advocate Program (CAP) serves as the federally-appointed bests interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Through CAP’s state initiative, we also serve and are appointed by the Superior Courts of New Jersey as independent Child Advocates to children released from federal custody into the New Jersey community. Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Young Center’s Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children’s rights and best interests in all decisions. The Technical Assistance Program, the Young Center’s newest program, offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems.

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Advocate for children’s best interests before government or other interested parties

Supervise volunteers appointed as Child Advocate for unaccompanied and separated children in federal custody in or near Harlingen and across the United States as needed

Serve as Child Advocate to a limited number of cases or as needed

Visit children as needed and communicate with caregivers, family members and stakeholders

Provide internal case consultation and case support involving the state, federal, and international best interests legal principles and immigration law for the Harlingen office

Support the local and national efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain volunteer Child Advocates

Participate in internal and external working groups

Meet regularly with local stakeholders (government field staff, facility staff, immigration judges, ICE officers, and legal service providers); collaborate on presentations to local stakeholders; attend case staffings or other stakeholder meetings; and speak about the Child Advocate Program at local, regional, and national events

Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders or organizations in the community

Assist the team in meeting case goals and other deliverables for the government contract and private grants

Capture accurate and timely data management to inform reports to the government, other funders, and internal Young Center departments regarding children served, case outcomes, program metrics, and current trends

Participate in a supportive, collaborative work culture that allows for creative, thoughtful, high-quality, and effective interdisciplinary advocacy

In collaboration with the site Managing Social Worker and/or Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), consult with social worker colleagues to develop child-centered advocacy through a trauma-informed lens that identifies and advocates for the best interests of unaccompanied and separated children

Under the supervision of the Managing Attorney and with input from the Deputy Program Directors (Attorney and Social Worker), draft and submit best interests determinations to immigration judges, asylum officers, attorneys, and federal agencies, applying state, federal, and international law and incorporating social science research and social work best practices, including, but not limited to trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches

Actively engage with colleagues and supervisors in developing and editing interdisciplinary best interests determinations

Accompany children to court hearings and interviews related to their immigration case

Under the supervision of the Deputy Program Director (Social Worker), assess which children may need additional supportive and/or mental health services and accompany them to appointments as needed

Other duties as assignedMINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

J.D. and license to practice law or ability to acquire license within the first year of employment

Generally, has prior experience working with children and/or youth, trauma survivors, or migrant/refugees/unaccompanied children to demonstrate an understanding of the population we serve. This may be first-hand experience or demonstrated interest in the field (coursework, internships, volunteer opportunities, etc.).

Legal analysis, negotiation, and mediation skills

Effective communication skills, including ability to liaise with various stakeholders, colleagues, and volunteers

Excellent case management skills

High-level organizational skills

Ability to work independently, take initiative, and proactively address case needs

Demonstrated ability to work effectively and creatively as part of an interdisciplinary team

Ability to work in a flexible, evolving environment, adapt to situations, and manage change effectively

Commitment to a comprehensive culture of feedback, including seeking and providing positive and constructive feedback and engaging in productive conversations

Commitment to learn, both as an individual and as part of an organization, and apply diversity, equity, inclusion, and/or anti-racism principles

Ability to effectively engage across different culture, identities, and ethnicities

Strong writing skills

Aptitude and thoughtfulness in working with children and promoting child-centered advocacy

Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, Zoom, Adobe Acrobat, and willingness to learn new technology and/or platforms

Bilingual ability (oral and written) in English/Spanish or English/ other languages spoken by the population we serve

Valid driver’s license and access to a carPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Lived experience that lends insight into supporting immigrant children and their families

Understanding of the impact of trauma on children and familiarity with a trauma-informed approach to advocacy

Background and/or demonstrated interest in immigration law, juvenile law, or other areas of law impacting childrenPHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Physical demands include regular attendance; keyboarding; sitting for long periods (at least 5 hours a day); driving. Ability to use a computer, telephone, and copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car, and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation. May be requested to work weekends for child advocate trainings or other special events as needed.

APPLICATION DETAILS:

Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in its hiring practices and actively seeks a diverse applicant pool. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified applicants with disabilities may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

$72,160- $82,103 is the standard new hire range for this position. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center’s total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

For roles working directly with children, clearance of fingerprint-based criminal background check, child abuse and neglect check (CANS), and tuberculosis test is a condition of employment.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume, writing sample and three references. Only complete applications will be considered.

To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit

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Full-time